Skip to Content Facebook Feature Image

KLM celebrates 106 years of connection with the US with a special Delft Blue house in the heart of Leiden

Business

KLM celebrates 106 years of connection with the US with a special Delft Blue house in the heart of Leiden
Business

Business

KLM celebrates 106 years of connection with the US with a special Delft Blue house in the heart of Leiden

2025-10-09 14:45 Last Updated At:15:05

TAIPEI and HONG KONG, Oct. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, KLM marks its 106th anniversary by unveiling a new Delft Blue house: the former sexton's residence, Villa Rameau, located next to the Pieterskerk in Leiden. The Pilgrims stayed here for twelve years before they set sail on the Mayflower to America in 1620.

106 years of transatlantic ties: from pilgrims to Joint Venture

The Pilgrims' journey began a lasting connection across the Atlantic, one that KLM has proudly continued for 106 years. As the world's oldest airline still operating under its original name, KLM has played a key role in linking the Netherlands and Europe with the United States. As part of the Air France-KLM Group and in Joint Venture with Delta Air Lines, KLM carries millions of passengers each year between Europe and the US, serving a network of fifteen US destinations. These connections support the economies and prosperity on both sides of the ocean.

"With the unveiling of Villa Rameau as our 106th Delft Blue house, we're not only celebrating our birthday, but also the importance of connection and resilience," said Marjan Rintel, President & CEO of KLM. "These values are reflected in the story of the house and the Pilgrims, and they're also at the heart of KLM. For 106 years, we've been building global connections. Especially in challenging times, this house reminds us how vital it is to stay connected. It's a small symbol with a big story about how we keep innovating and shaping the future of aviation."

A rich Leiden history

Villa Rameau, now home to the Leiden American Pilgrim Museum, has a storied past. The Pilgrims' first harvest festival here, inspired by the Relief of Leiden, eventually became what Americans know as Thanksgiving, a tradition still honored every year at the Pieterskerk. Later, the Rameau family, residents of the house, played a crucial role in the local resistance during World War II. This spot in Leiden stands for perseverance in turbulent times and forging new bonds, values KLM holds dear.

Peter Heijkoop, Mayor of Leiden, said: "It's an honor that Villa Rameau, with its unique history and central place in Leiden, is now part of the KLM miniature house collection. This house tells an important part of Leiden's story, from the Pilgrims to the resistance. We're proud to see this story shared with the world in this special way."

About the Delft Blue Houses

Since the 1950s, KLM has given Delft Blue houses filled with Bols Dutch Gin as gifts to World Business Class passengers on intercontinental flights. These miniatures represent special buildings from the Netherlands and beyond and are beloved collectors' items. Since 1994, the number of houses matches KLM's age. Each year on October 7, KLM's birthday, a new house is added to the collection. The annual KLM house is a tribute to places that connect the Netherlands with the wider world.

Download pictures here.

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

KLM celebrates 106 years of connection with the US with a special Delft Blue house in the heart of Leiden

KLM celebrates 106 years of connection with the US with a special Delft Blue house in the heart of Leiden

SHENZHEN, China, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- RoboSense (02498 HKEX), a pioneering AI-driven robotics technology company, has been ranked No.1 in the 2025 3D LiDAR Sales Volume for Global Robotic Lawn Mowers by OFweek. Leveraging the generational-leading advantages of its digital LiDAR, such as the E1R, RoboSense has established deep partnerships with multiple global leading robotic lawn mower companies, including Mammotion and Segway Navimow. These collaborations have set a new benchmark for the next-generation boundary-free intelligent robotic lawn mowers driving industry development.

RoboSense's strong performance in the robotic lawn mower segment also drove record-breaking sales growth of its LiDAR products in the robotics sector in 2025, achieving an annual sales volume of 303,000 units—a year-on-year increase of 1141.8%. According to the Gaogong Industry Research Institute (GGII), "2025 Sales Volume Ranking of 3D LiDAR for Robotics in China," RoboSense ranked No.1 for LiDAR sales volume in the robotics sector, demonstrating leadership across both niche segments and the overall robotics market.

The robotic lawn mower segment was the fastest-growing robot category in 2025. According to IDC, in the first half of 2025 alone, global shipments of robotic lawn mowers reached 2.343 million units, representing a year-on-year increase of 327.2%. In this process, RoboSense's digital LiDAR, leveraging its self-developed SPAD-SoC and VCSEL digital chip architecture for high performance and reliability, has become a key driver in enabling perception upgrades and supporting market growth for robotic lawn mowers.

The E1R, the world's first fully solid-state digital LiDAR for robotics, features a 90° ultra-wide vertical FOV and 144 beams, allowing precise detection of small ground obstacles, terrain changes, and fence edges—facilitating accurate localization, mapping, and navigation for robotic lawn mowers. Its fully solid-state design ensures resilience to vibration, bumps, and shocks, improving operational stability on rough terrain by up to three times. Built to automotive-grade standards, the E1R has passed more than 60 reliability tests, including UV aging, salt spray, and electromagnetic compatibility, and can reliably operate in harsh conditions such as rain and dust. With an outdoor service life of up to 8 years, far exceeding industry standards, it serves as the optimal perception partner for all-weather, all-condition robotic lawn mower operation.

Leveraging its leading digital LiDAR products, RoboSense has become a core partner for multiple global leading robotic lawn mower companies. As the global market penetration of robotic lawn mowers continues to grow, the application of LiDAR is expected to enter a new phase of rapid expansion, with RoboSense poised to capitalize on its first-mover advantage and lead the way into the next era of strong growth.

Source:

OFWEEK, "2025 Global 3D LiDAR Sales Volume Ranking for Robotic Lawn Mowers"

Gaogong Industry Research Institute (GGII), "2025 Sales Volume Ranking of 3D LiDAR for Robotics in China"

About RoboSense

RoboSense (02498 HKEX), founded in 2014, is an AI-driven robotics technology company that supplies core components and solutions for the robotics market, committed to "Become the global leader in robotics technology platforms." Headquartered in Shenzhen, China, the company has offices in Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hong Kong; Stuttgart in Germany; Detroit and Silicon Valley in the United States.

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

RoboSense Ranked No.1 in Global 3D LiDAR Sales Volume for Robotic Lawn Mowers

RoboSense Ranked No.1 in Global 3D LiDAR Sales Volume for Robotic Lawn Mowers

RoboSense Ranked No.1 in Global 3D LiDAR Sales Volume for Robotic Lawn Mowers

RoboSense Ranked No.1 in Global 3D LiDAR Sales Volume for Robotic Lawn Mowers

Recommended Articles